Don't make election a referendum on Common Core

The Marshfield School District needs to retain its standing as a regional leader and a community asset, and the representatives voters choose on Tuesday for Marshfield School Board will have a responsibility for making that happen. That's why it was somewhat troubling to us that the majority of Monday's candidate forum at the University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County revolved around Common Core State Standards - an issue that is really one for the state Legislature, not the Marshfield School Board.

Marshfield cannot cancel Wisconsin's adoption of the standards. And resisting implementation would risk harming the district's standing relative to competing Wisconsin districts. We hope and expect that our School Board leaders will keep a close eye on Common Core implementation and seek to address specific problems as they arise. But this local race is not and should not be about broad-brush opposition to (or, for that matter, support for) the educational benchmarks.

To make Common Core opposition a campaign plank, as candidate Dennis Juncer has done, is to inject partisan politics into an office that is intentionally nonpartisan and which ought to be focused on the actual business of educating kids, not engaging in political warfare.

Voters will elect two Marshfield School Board members; with the retirement of longtime member Frances Bohon, there will be at least one new face on the board. Here are some impressions of the candidates on Tuesday's ballot:

? Dorothy Chaney has community leadership experience that would make her an extremely valuable addition to the board, and we hope voters will give her a chance. She has a master's degree in adult education and has deep experience for nonprofits and community development organizations. She worked on community outreach programs for Marshfield Clinic and now is the president of the Wisconsin Community Health Alliance supporting a range of community-level public health initiatives. She's worked with the Marshfield Area Coalition for Youth, the Marshfield Area Parent Network and other organizations that give her a direct view into the needs of local children.

In short, Chaney has demonstrated a very high degree of professionalism and a deep commitment to the community. She's also approached her campaign with passion and enthusiasm, which tells us something about the way she would serve on the board. She cares about moving the community forward, and we believe she would be a leader on the board.

? Mark Konrardy is the sole incumbent seeking re-election on Tuesday. As a board member, he's been willing to listen and has demonstrated fiscal responsibility and an independent streak. And because he is a working electrician, he also brings a valuable perspective to discussions about how the district can promote postsecondary education for those students for whom a liberal arts degree may not be the best fit.

? Jason Angell is Marshfield's director of planning and economic development, and he has campaigned on his expertise in economic development and working with municipalities. He is also a young parent with a stake in the schools. We believe he would be a good board member, and for voters the choice between Angell and Konrardy is a close one.

? Juncer has said Common Core is not his only issue, though it does seem to be the thing he cares most about. He cites communication with the public and fiscal oversight as other concerns, and we certainly agree with those priorities. But we worry that he would approach the board as an ideologue rather than a pragmatist, and that is not the best way to serve the community.

The Marshfield School Board will inherit a budget that is in its best shape in years; the days of million-dollar deficits, at least for now, have been beaten back. But big decisions loom with respect to facilities use and administrator contracts, and the new term for the board will be an eventful one. The community needs engaged, open-minded School Board representatives to help it move forward.